Tom Jones: Part Three by Lynne Connolly

Author:Lynne Connolly [Fielding, Lynne Connolly and Henry]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Totally Entwined Group Ltd
Published: 2013-07-03T00:00:00+00:00

Chapter Nine

Containing little more than a few odd observations

Jones had been absent a full half-hour when he returned into the kitchen in a hurry, desiring the landlord to let him know that instant what was to pay. And now the concern which Partridge felt at being obliged to quit the warm chimney-corner and a cup of excellent liquor was somewhat compensated by hearing that he was to proceed no farther on foot, for Jones, by golden arguments, had prevailed with the boy to attend him back to the inn whither he had before conducted Sophia. But to this however the lad consented upon condition that the other guide would wait for him at the alehouse, because as the landlord at Upton was an intimate acquaintance of the landlord at Gloucester, it might some time or other come to the ears of the latter that his horses had been let to more than one person, and so the boy might be brought to account for money which he wisely intended to put in his own pocket.

We were obliged to mention this circumstance, trifling as it may seem, since it retarded Mr Jones a considerable time in his setting out. For the honesty of this latter boy was somewhat high—that is, somewhat high-priced, and would indeed have cost Jones very dear had not Partridge, who as we have said was a very cunning fellow, artfully thrown in half-a-crown to be spent at that very alehouse while the boy was waiting for his companion. This half-crown the landlord no sooner got scent of than he opened after it with such vehement and persuasive outcry that the boy was soon overcome, and consented to take half-a-crown more for his stay. Here we cannot help observing that as there is so much of policy in the lowest life, great men often overvalue themselves on those refinements in imposture in which they are frequently excelled by some of the lowest of the human species.

The horses being now produced, Jones directly leapt into the side-saddle on which his dear Sophia had rid. The lad indeed very civilly offered him the use of his, but he chose the side-saddle, probably because it was softer. Partridge, however, though full as effeminate as Jones, could not bear the thoughts of degrading his manhood. He therefore accepted the boy’s offer and now, Jones being mounted on the side-saddle of his Sophia, the boy on that of Mrs Honour and Partridge bestriding the third horse, they set forwards on their journey, and within four hours arrived at the inn where the reader hath already spent so much time.

Partridge was in very high spirits during the whole way and often mentioned to Jones the many good omens of his future success which had lately befriended him and which the reader, without being the least superstitious, must allow to have been particularly fortunate. Partridge was moreover better pleased with the present pursuit of his companion than he had been with his pursuit of glory.

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